The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-14
LIQUOR AND LABOR,

Cntemperance the Great Enemy of the
Working Men-How 1t Wastes Their
Producing Powers and Depreciates Their
Earnings.
One of the most valuable contribu-
tons to the discussion of the great
question of the day in America is an
article under the caption of 'Intem-
perance the Enemy of Labor" in the
current number of the Catholic World.
The author, Rev. DR.. Conaty, of Wor-
cester, Mass, is one of the ablest men
of his communion in America, and en-
joys wide popularity on account of his
connection with the Irish Land League
movement and his efforts to promote
the Parnen tribute fund, of which he
was the American treasurer two years
ago.
DR.. Conaty does not discuss the
subject from sectarian point of view.
He deals with it as an economist. He
tersely states the close relations exist
ing between labor and capital by say
ing: eff labor is the soul, capital is
the body Of commercial life" The
capitalist seeks fair profit for his in
vestment, and, generally speaking, is
content with such fair profit unless he
is allied with monopoly. The work
ing-man seeks q reasonable share in
the profits he creates. He organizes
with his fellows for that purpose. DR..
Conaty holds that the working-man
is both q capitalist and an Garner.
his capital being bodily health,
energy, industry and skill. In
temperance constantly impairs this
capital and lessons its earning
power. If man loses his health
through indulgence in strong drink,
Dr. Conaty says, he is bankrupt.
Health is Ibis source of strength and
happiness, and, humanity speaking, al
most his only one. The interests of
home, family and society press upon
him so closely that he must protect his
labor by protecting the soundness of
his body. :. The workingman
whose habits are not temperate is
wasting his capital, is squandering
every element of value that he can
contribute to any enterprise so as to
secure remunerative share of prof
its" The Incorporate mans labor is
worthless, or nearly so. lntemper-
ance, therefore. is the great enemy of
labor, as it wastes the producing
power, and it also enfeebles those or
CARNATIONS of working-men that try
to exact justice from capital, plus mo-
nopoly.
Even moderate drinking hurts labor,
inasmuch as it not only depreciates the
capital, but also wastes the earnings
thereof. 1t is an underestimate to say
that the moderate drinker spends one
months wages every year on strong
liquor.
Suppose it costs fifteen cents per day. That
would pay the interest on mortgage of one
thousand dollars; it would purchase many an
article Of household furniture; it would bring
into the home many comforts now unknown; it
would at least pay many bill which can not
now be met. Add to this what is spent in pro-
tracted spree, the time lost to work and the
wages unearned the sickness often resulting
and it is safe to say that intemperance robs la
Dor of more than enough to give decent home
to every working man"
If the capitalists who employ work
ing-men were to announce a reduction
OF fifteen cents per day in wages the
working-men would strike, and would
issue boycott against the capitalist
Concerning this phase of the question
DIR. Conaty asks;
Then why not protest against the blood.tax
which intemperance collects? Why calmly sub
init to this reduction Of your small wages? Why
not strike against this great enemy of labor and
boycott rum? 1t is like q grinding capitalist; it
brushes mans life, picks his pockets and uses
his hard earnings as a bludgeon to destroy him.
Cry out against the corporations that poorly
pay your labor, unite against monopolists who
seek to get the most possible work for the least
possible pay: but cry also for protection
against this master Intemperance, who whip
In hand, lashes worse than ever overseer tor
tured slave"
But, as the reverend gentleman points
out. so far from the working-men boy
cotting the rum power they are its
steadiest supporters. 1t is Notifying,
he says, to see labor protecting and de-
Tending the liquor traffic in political
life.
Capital is called selfish because it seeks to
enrich itself, but in cnriching itself it helps TO
enrich Others. But for pure, unadulterated
selhshness commend me to the saloon where
men grow rich by impovershing their friends
and succeed by trampling others under foot"
Those who are thus enriched by the
traffic become political magnates who
dictate public policy, make and UNI
make public men and public laws, and
name the candidates freemen must
vote for And the nominees of those
liquor men never, once they get into
office, vote for any measure to amelio-
rate the lot of the working-men.
"The Representatives of the liquor men in the
State Legislatures elected by the votes Of the
wOrling-me may be absent every day except
when it is question of liquor-law amendments,
and then they must vote against any and every
restriction or be exposed to political decapta-
ton; and it is the same whether IL be question
of high Incense in New York or an anti-tene-
ment liquor bill in Massachusetts"
DIR. Conaty has done well to call at
tention to those pregnant facts. His
article should be widely distributed